"Okay Sicily, this is it. I activate my Graceful Charity magic card to draw three new cards and discard two". Darren picked up three cards and gasped. "This must be Arcturas's strongest card. I've never seen anything like it. And twelve stars. Well, here goes. First I send Amphibian Beast and Opticlops to the graveyard. Then I activate my magic card called Dark Magic Curtain. For the cost of half my life points, I can summon one Dark Magician from my deck or graveyard. So go my Dark Magician (A2500, D2100). Now for the highlight of my turn. I sacrifice Dark Magician, Gemini Elf, and Bazoo for this, Thanatos the Black Angel (A4500, D4000)". A growling skeleton with flaming red eyes and a flowing black cloak appeared on the field. In its hand was an enormous death scythe that had a creature's bones at the top. The skeleton was a gargantuan monster, even compared to the giant monster that was Project Omicron.

"Wha, what is that?" Sicily asked with terror all over his face.

"This is my sweet revenge. Thanatos, attack his Project Omicron with Slash of the Underworld", Darren shouted. The monster raised its scythe and slashed down onto the opposing monster. The monster fell apart and specs of light flew into Thanatos. "I end my turn".

Darren- 300

Sicily- 3100

Sicily stepped backward several times. "No, there's no such thing as that monster. You're cheating. I'm out of here", he said. The ring on his finger started to glow but the Millenium Medallion responded by doing the same.

'You aren't going anywhere. You started this and now Darren will finish it', Arcturas's voice echoed throughout the Shadow Realm. 'Now take your turn'.

Sicily drew a card. "I set one monster face down in defense mode. I end my turn". Sicily had begun to cry.

Suddenly Thanatos's attack points jumped up by half of Omicron's attack to 6500. "Prepare to lose. I activate Raigeki to destroy every monster on your side of the field. Now Thanatos, attack his life points directly". Thanatos swung the scythe and Sicily collapsed to the ground. The shadows flooded into his ring. Darren looked around the warehouse. Nicole was still dangling, but the water was now normal. Darren ran over to the crank and let her down. He then untied the chains and the cloth around her neck.

The girl stood up and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Oh thank you so much. I can't think of anyway to repay you. I can't believe that someone actually beat Sicily. I thought only Cairo was able to do that. But that doesn't matter. Oh thank you". She finally let go of Darren.

"Wait, what do you mean, by Cairo? Who is he?" Darren asked.

The girl took a deep breath and said, "That isn't important now. You have to get back to your house and make sure that the Dark Book is safe. I'll explain everything tomorrow. Go". Arcturas took off running back to his house. His watch read 4:17 am when he got home. His mom was asleep on the couch so he crept by her. He got to his room and found the Dark Book lying on his bed.

"Good, just where I left it. Arcturas, what was that monster that you gave me?" he asked.

'It was my most powerful card. Back when Atemu was the Pharaoh of Egypt, he had three very powerful monsters. These were the gods known as Slifer the Sky Dragon, Obelisk the Tormentor, and The Winged Dragon of Ra. However, there was a fourth god. Thanatos is the god of death. He gets a bonus equal to half of a monster that he destroys. He is the strongest of the Egyptian God Cards, after all, nothing is stronger than death'.

"Well thanks for the help Arcturas. Without that card, I would have never won".

'Darren, I'm very proud of you. You did great for your first Shadow Game. But you should get some sleep. You have to meet with that girl to learn about Sicily and Cairo'. Arcturas took off his duel disk and the Millenium Medallion before falling to his bed.

"Darren", came a familiar voice. The silhouette of Darren's father drew near until he was visible.

"Father", Darren said. His voice echoed in his subconscious. "I'm sorry, I lost the card that you gave to me. Someone took it and through it into the Shadow Realm".

"It's okay Darren", Karl said. "I sensed a very powerful presence come from you. Stronger than any card I have ever seen. I guess if you could wield such a power, than you truly can have these. They are my most powerful monsters". Three orbs the size of golf balls flew around his arm. They were blue, red, and gold. But each of them were surrounded by an aura. The auras were brown, blue, and red. Then they heard a strange chanting.

"Myoke Turahn Sheyempo Nelliot". The voice of the chant was very demonic. It sounded like the killer from Saw. Then the balls disappeared. There was a crash and Darren woke up.

Darren looked around his room. It was bright because of the sun peering through his windows. He noticed someone was sitting in his window with the book he had received from the library. They were sitting with their legs out the window reading the book intently. It was the girl from the night before.

"Hey", Darren shouted. The girl snapped the door shut and looked over at Darren. "What are you doing in my room?"

The girl giggled and flashed him her bright teeth. "I came to see you. When I got here, I saw the book sitting on the floor and thought I would take a look at what is inside it", she said. Darren got out of bed and got a shirt from his closet. This one advertised Megadeth: Rust in Peace. He quickly changed shirts and turned back to the girl. He picked up the Millenium Medallion and put in around his neck.

"So what is it that you wanted to tell me today?" he asked. The girl shook her head.

"Not here. Meet me outside and we'll go somewhere to talk". The girl walked out onto the fire escape and began to climb down the series of ladders. Darren grabbed his duel disk and began left his room. His mom had already gone to work. He left the apartment building to find the girl standing outside. "Come on", she said. They walked in silence for awhile. They eventually came to one of those restaurants that have the tables and umbrellas in the front. She sat down at a table and he did the same.

"First off, who are you? And why do you want the book?" Darren asked.

The girl was smiling at him. Her eyes moved into his and she flinched. "Okay, my name is Nicole Trapt. But I don't want the book. I was approached by Sicily and he told me that he would make me strong enough if I got him the book. He gave me this red ring so I could command the power of the Shadow Realm".

Darren looked confused. "Strong enough? Strong enough for what?" he asked. Nicole blushed and looked at the table.

"Um…nothing", she responded.

Darren looked at her as she played with a strand of her hair and looked at the table. "Well you mentioned that the only person that could beat him was another guy. I think you said Cairo".

"Oh, yeah. Sicily was a master duelist. He never lost. I used to watch him duel against people that would stand up to him. But there was another master named Cairo and he was the only person that looked like he was good enough to defeat Sicily", Nicole said.

Darren heard something echo in his head. "Um…I have this 'friend' that would like to ask you a question. Do you mind if he asks you?" he asked. Nicole shook her head. The Millenium Medallion flashed and Arcturas replaced Darren.

"I just need to ask you one question. Have you ever heard the name Atemu?" the spirit asked.

Nicole shook her head and said, "No, I'm sorry but that name has never been mentioned around me".

"Thank you, but I must be going. And thank you for the information". Arcturas stood up and turned to leave.

"No wait", Nicole shouted. Several people looked over for a few seconds, but turned back to their lunches. "I just want to ask Darren a question". Arcturas went back into the medallion, leaving Darren standing in his place. "I was wondering if you had a girl friend".

"No actually I don't. But wha", Darren was cut off when Nicole wrapped her arms around him and pressed her lips up to his. Darren's eyes were wide open but found himself placing his hands on her shoulders. He felt like time had stopped. His mind was completely blank. Eventually Nicole stopped. Darren's eyes were still wide. "Well…um…okay. I didn't see that coming. Would you like to go and hang out or something. I can't after today because tomorrow is the beginning of the Kingda Ka tournament. But tonight, I'm playing in a sorta, open mic night at the guitar store. Would you like to come?" he asked.
Nicole giggled and said," Yeah, I'd love to go. But you're in the Kingda Ka tournament. I wish I had signed up. But that would mean that you have to go away for weeks. Do you know how long until I would get to see you again?" Darren shook his head. Nicole frowned but Darren lifted her chin up with his finger and smiled at her.

"Don't worry, I will win the tournament as quickly as I can and come home to see you. But the more we're apart, the more we'll miss each other and when I get home, that'll bring us closer. I'll pick you up on my way to the guitar store". He leaned down to kiss Nicole, then they walked off in different directions. Darren got home and picked up his red, hollow body True Tone and began plucking at the strings, looking for notes that sounded good.

Darren arrived at Nicole's house around 6:45. When he had arrived at his own house, he realized that he didn't know where she lived. But luckily, he found a folded up piece of paper in his windowsill. The paper had the directions to her house. Her parents didn't come to the door. She just came outside in with a big smile on her face. "Okay, let's go", she said.

Both of them were too nervous to talk until they got to the guitar store. There was a black and white guitar on the display shelf. It had a glass container on it. "I have to tell you something. This isn't just an open mic night. It's like a guitar competition. The winner gets that Fender Stratacastor that was actually used by Jimi Hendrix. I'm actually here to win this. I didn't plan on having a date tonight so this is kinda like you're along for the ride", Darren confessed.

Nicole giggled. "I don't mind. At least we're spending the night together". She stood up on her toes and kissed Darren on the lips. They walked inside.

"Hello! Welcome to Guitar Center's annual guitar competition. How may I help you?" asked the greeter.

"Um…I'd like to enter the competition. My name is Darren Fantasy". The man nodded as he wrote Darren's name down. Darren walked over to the stage-like area where the other guitarists were. Nicole went and sat down with the other audience members.

"Ladies and gentlemen. Tonight is a special night where the greatest guitarist in the city will take home one of Jimi Hendrix's guitars. The rules are simple. Each of them will play a song. Then the two best will play another song to decide who wins", said another man that worked there. About twenty other people showed up. There were rock, country, pop, rap, and even polka songs played. Darren played the song from the second chapter (The Not So Perfect Life). It eventually got down to him and another guy. "Alright, it's now time for the last two songs". The other kid walked up to the stage and played a country song. When he was done, Darren nervously walked up the stairs and plugged in his guitar.

"Okay, I wrote this song for someone very special in tonight's crowd. So even if I don't win, at least I get to play this for her" he said. He placed his fingers on the fret board and began strumming away.

If you let me take your heart,

I will prove to you

We will never be apart

If I'm part of you

Open up your eyes now

Tell me what you see

It is no surprise now

What you see is me

Big and black the clouds may be

Time will pass away

If you put your trust in me

I'll make bright your day

Look into these eyes now

Tell me what you see

Don't you realize now

What you see is me

Tell me what you see

Listen to me one more time

How can I get through

Can't you try that I'm

Trying to get to you

Open up your eyes now

Tell me what you see

It is no surprise now

What you see is me

Tell me what you see

Listen to me one more time

How can I get through

Can't you try to see that I'm

Trying to get to you

Open up your eyes now

Tell me what you see

It is no surprise now

What you see is me".

The final note echoed throughout the room but was soon lost in the applause. The clerk walked up to Darren with the Fender. From the other side came Nicole. It was then that Darren thought to himself 'Maybe living in this shit hole city isn't so bad'.